Electric rifle



March 3, 1942. M. w. KENNEY ET AL 2,275,150

ELECTRIC RIFLE Filed Jan. 12, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fmi? 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 M. W. KENNEY vET AL ELECTRIC RIFLE Filed Jan. 12, 1940 ML LLU/MAHUM March 3, 1942- March 3, 1942. M. W. KENNEY ET Al.

ELECTRIC RIFLE Filed Jan. l2, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 MU@ uwmumm arch 3, 1942- M. w. KENNEY ET'AL 2,275,150

ELECTRIC RIFLE F'led Jan. l2, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A inst-ita i its,

imi

if. s fee Patented Mar. 3, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRIC RIFLE Mahlon W. Kenney, Oak Park, and Herman G. Jensen, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Rayolite Rifle Range Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Oklahoma Application January 12, 1940, Serial No. 313,520

8 Claims. (Cl. 2MB-6.41)

insulated spring 34 and yieldingly pressed against the rail 28. 35 and 36 are sleeves projecting upwardly from the frames 26 and 21 upon which are rotatably mounted grooved pulleys 31 and 38. An endless belt 39 travels about these pulleys and is connected to the carriage 29 by a, drive plate 43. 4| is a hollow shaft, projecting upwardly from the carriage 29 and supporting the socket 42 which carries a photoelectric cell 43. The

of the shooter; tc provide c, traveling target shaft 4| is hollow so that a suitable electric conwhich will reverse its direction of travel when dllCtOl may @Xtend therethlOllgh flOm the DhOO- hit; to provide an electrical and mechanical conelectric cell 43 to the spring 34, the other terminal trol means, especially well adapted to adjust, 0f the DhOO-eleCtIC C911 being gIOuIlded. control and operate the device; and to provide a Spring ngels 44 011 the Carriage 29 are device which may be easily renewed, repaired and adapted t0 engage the bal 45, WhCh S DVOB 0n maintained. the bracket 46 on the track 2|. Contact of the other objects of our invention will appear spring fingers 44 with this bar serves to rotate from time to time in the specification and claims it to actuate a limit switch |2| to insure that the Figure l is a perspective view of the device in target will stop in the central front position and operation. remain visible when the device is out of play. Figure 2 is a detail view of the target device en The spring contact of the lingers with the bar an enlarged scale with parts omitted also has a braking eect to yieldingly stop the Figure 3 is a section through the target itself. target Figure 4 is a diagram of the gun lamp circuit. Encircling the shaft 4| and mounted for rota- Figures 5 and 6 are diagrams 0f the electrical 25 tion thereabout is a hollow shaft 50, upon which circuits, Figures 5 and 6 being complementary in is rigidly mOllHted a bIaCket 5| haVIlg pVOted order that the drawings may be large enough for thereon two legs 52. The bracket 5| also carries easy reading. the target body 54. This target body simulates Like parts are indicated by like characters in a tramp or other comic character. In this case, the various figures. lenses 55 are located in each shoulder of the is a cabinet containing a target visible tramp in such position as to concentrate the light through the window 2. 3 includes a series of ray frOm the gurl Upon the phOtO-eletf C811 43- hit-indicating windows adapted to be illuminated The hOllOW Shaft 50 S YOatably mOilIlted in by electric lights as will hereinafter appear. 4 is the bearing 56 Orl the Carriage 29. The IOWEI an electric plug by which the apparatus may be end of the hollow shaft carries a gear 58 in mesh connected to a suitable electric power source, with the rack 59. This rack is carried by the such as a house lighting circuit. 5 is a gun cabislide plate 60 slidably held in the channels 6| net, having a coin slide 6, and a gun rack l and 62 on the carriage 29, and the slide plate 60 adapted to receive the gun 8, and cables 9 and also supports the drive plate 48 above referred to. joining the gun 8, the gun cabinet 5 and the 40 The longitudinal excursion of the plate 60 and target cabinet l. the rack 59 with respect to the carriage is limited 2| and 22 are endless track members. They by adjusting screws 63 so that whenever the are supported by stanchions 23, 24, and 25 on the direction of travel of the belt is reversed, it moves frame members 26 and 21 in the cabinet I. 'the plate and rack longitudinally alOIlg the Cal'- These tracks have two parallel sections joined at riage, a distance suiiicient to rotate the target each end by curved sections. 28 is a conductor through an angle of 180 degrees before the caror third rail insulated from and carried by the riage gets under way so that the target will face stanchions 23, 24, and 25, and curved to conform forwardly no matter in which direction the carwith the contour of the tracks 2| and 22. 29 is riage is traveling. a target carriage having wheels 30 adjacent each 50 The belt 39 coincides in contour and position end thereof and adapted to travel along the to the two tracks 2| and 22, so that as it travels track 2| and support the weight of the carriage. it propels the carriage along the tracks. 3| and 32 are rollers, engaging opposite sides of Pins 65 depend downwardly from the legs 52. the track 22 to maintain the carriage in upright |56 is a rotary plate having upwardly turned position. 33 are contact rollers supported on an 55 'ears 6l to pivotally support pins 68 on the legs 52, so that the pin 95 on one leg engages a series of spaced stop members 69, moving that leg back and causing the other leg to move forwardly so as to simulate a walking action.

is a motor, 1| a speed reducing gear, 16 a flexible coupling, a shaft whereby the motor 10 drives the pulley 31 and so the belt 39. 13 is a bell adapted to be rung by the solenoid 14 when a hit is made.

In a number of instances in this application we have illustrated conventionally certain plug and socket connections. In each case, the mating elements are given the same number, which number is not referred to in the specification but is provided merely for convenience in tracing the circuit through the plug and socket connector.

Conductors |0I and |02 lead from the plug 4 to the socket |03. Lights |94 within the target cabinet are connected between the conductors |0| and |02 for the purpose of illuminating the target and scenery. |06 is a master switch which may be used to control the entire system. Conductors |01 and |06 lead from the plug |09 associated with the socket |03 to the primary coil of the transformer I0, through the fuse |I I. Conductors ||2 and ||3 connect respectively with the conductors |01 and |08 and lead to the primary coil of the transformer ||4 through the fuse ||5. A circuit extends through conductor H6, an adjustable rheostat or resistor ||1, conductor 8, a separable connector A, conductor to limit switch |2| controlled by bar 45, thence through the eld coil |22 of the motor 10, conductor |23, connector A, conductor |24 to the relay switch point |25.

In the position shown in Figure 5, the circuit continues through the conductor |26, connector A, conductor |21 to the armature of the motor 10, thence through the conductor |28, connector A, conductor |29 to the relay switch point |30, in this case shown closed, thence through the conductor |3|, conductor ||3, conductor |08, plug |09, conductor |02 back to the source of power.

When the switch parts in relay B are in the lower position as shown-in Figure 5, the circuit is the same as in the preceding paragraph to and including conductor |24 and then is as follows: relay switch point |32, thence through the conductor |29, connector A, conductor |28, the armature of the motor 10, conductor |21, connector A, conductor |26, relay switch point |33, conductor |3|, conductor ||3, conductor |08, back to the source of power, thereby reversing the direction of current flowing through the armature, and so reversing the motor. The elements |25, |30, |32, |33 are all part of a reversing relay. assembly, which is identified by the master letter B.

Since the usual house lighting circuit carries 110 volt current, the preferred form of our device is wired so far as transformer ||4 and all the elements and circuits above described are concerned for 110 volt AC, though if a different voltage must be used, the wiring will be changed accordingly. In either event, no matter what the power voltage is, the remaining elements of the device now to be described operate on a different Voltage, hence the necessity of transformers above referred to.

Until a coin is inserted in the coin slide and the slide is pushed in, the apparatus is inoperative. The target is at rest near the middle of the window in the target box, and pulling the trigger of the gun will have no effect. Except when the master switch |06 is open the light |04 illuminating the target and scenery will be on and the amplier will be in operation maintaining the heaters of the tubes in operative condition so that when the device goes into operation, there will be no delay.

When a coin is inserted and the coin slide is pushed in, the apparatus is as a result conditioned for operation and manipulation, the gun light heater current comes on to keep the filament at a cherry red, and the target commences to travel. The numeral zero (0) at the lefthand side of the target cabinet is illuminated and so remains until the operator makes a hit.

When the trigger is pulled a flash of light is projected from the barrel of the gun upon the target. A sound is heard similar to the report of a gun, and if the target is hit by the ash of light, the gun being properly aimed, a bell will ring and the target will immediately turn around and reverse its direction of travel along the track, the light behind the numeral zero (0) will go out and the light behind the number one (l) will be illuminated.

This continues until ten shots have been fired. If all ten shots are hits, then the user without further charge and without further manipulation of the coin slide may ilre ten more shots. However, if the first ten shots are not all hits, if even a single one is a miss, then after the ten shots have been red, the apparatus goes out of play, the gun light heater current is turned olf, the trigger becomes ineffective, and a light remains behind the window indicating the number of hits made. This light continues to be visible until the coin control mechanism is again manipulated, whereupon the zero (0) window indicating the start of a new string is illuminated.

This sequence of operations is broughtabout as follows:

The insertion of a coin releases the coin control mechanism so that the slide may be pushed in to actuate a switch to make operation possible. The following circuits then go into operation:

From one of the secondary coils |34 of the transformer ||4 through the conductor |35 to the reset coil |90, thence through the conductor |31, connector D, conductor |38, to the coin contolled switch |39, the switch point |40, conductor 4 connector D, conductor |42 to the other terminal of the secondary coil |34. This energizes the coil |36 and causes actuation of the reset mechanism, not here shown in detail, because its details form no part of the present invention, but illustrated diagrammatically by dotted lines. This returns the wiper arm |43 of the shot counter and the wiper arm |44 of the hit counter to the starting position, thus illuminating the zero (0) light at the left-hand side of the target box. The hit-counting circuit is then from the ground through the wiper arm |44, conductor |45, connector E, conductor |45, zero (0) light |41, conductor |48, connector E, conductor |49, secondary coil |50 of the transformer ||0 to ground. This illuminates the zero (0) light and indicates to the player that the apparatus is in starting position.

The reset mechanism also allows a circuit .from the ground through the shot-counting segment |5|, wiper arm |43, conductor |52, magnet coil |53, conductor |54, conductor |49, secondary transformer coil |50 to ground. This energizes the magnet coil |53 of the play control relay F to close a circuit through the play control .relay contacts as follows:

From the original power source through con- 2434?. iti.

ductor ||8, conductor |55, relay switch point |56, conductor |51, connector A, conductor |58, through the field coil |22 of the motor, conductor |23, connector A, conductor |24, relay switch point |25 in the relay B, conductor |26, connector A, conductor |21, armature of the motor 19, conductor |28, connector A, conductor |29, relay switch point |30, conductor |3I, conductor |13, conductor |08, back to the original source of power. The circuit is thus completed and the motor commences to operate, continuing so to do until the correct number of shots have been fired, the various-cycles of operation have been completed and the device is returned to the end condition. In connection with this operation, however, it is essential that the target shall stop at or near the central position so that it may remain visible even though the device is not conditioned for operation, and this is accomplished by means of the limit switch |2| in parallel with the circuit through the relay B, just described.

The limit switch remains closed until the target. approaches the central position, and at that time the spring lingers 44 engage the limit switch lever 45 to open the limit switch |2I, break the circuit, and insure that the target will stop in the central position.

Thev actuation of the magnet |53 operates relay F to also close a circuit from ground, through conductor 244 switch point |60, conductor |6l, connector D, conductor |62, gun lamp |63, conductor |64, conductor |4|, connector D, conductor |42, resistor |65, conductor |66, contact |68, secondary coil |61 of transformer ||4 to ground.

This circuit keeps the gun lamp in heated condition, but it is not suiiiciently energized to appreciably affect the photo-electric cell, as will hereinafter appear.

This is desirable because experience teaches thatfrequently recurrent application of a current to a cold gun lamp materially reduce the life thereof, and current surges may be set up in the system to upset other of the circuits and cause improper operation. So means are provided, first for maintaining the lamp hot at all times during operation, and second, for further heating the lamp when the gun trigger is pulled to project the necessary beam of light to actuate the mechanism, responsive to 4the impingement of the beam on the photoelectric cell 43.

When the `mechanism is conditioned for operation by the marksman, as above indicated, with the hit-indicator showing zero and the target moving along the track so as to make its periodic appearanceand disappearance, the operator takes the gun in hand, aims at the target, and pulls the trigger, whereupon the sound of a shot is heard. The shot counter, invisible to the operator, counts each shot. If the ygun is properly aimed and the ash o'f light impinges upon the lens 55 and so produces its eiTect upon the photoelectric cell, a bell rings, the target reversesits direction of travel and a hit' is indicated by the illumination of the next number window in sequence. If, however, va hit is vnot made, then there is no change in the hit-counting indicator, the target continues its travel `in the same direction and the bell does not ring. However, the shot-counter functions nevertheless.

We will rst describe the sequences when no hit is made:

When the trigger is pulled, the switch arm |69, controlled by the trigger |10, through mechanism not here shown, as it forms no part of our present invention, engages switch point |1|. This closes 75 a circuit from ground through magnet |12, conductor |13, connector D, conductor |14, switch |15, conductor |16, conductor |11, switch point |1|, switch arm |69, conductor |18, condenser |19, conductor |80, conductor |4 thence through connector D, conductor |42 to resistor |65, conductor |66, tap |68, secondary transformer coil |61 to ground. The charge in the condenser |19 momentarily energizes the magnet |12 to actuate the relay G to close the switch |8| and complete a circuit to shunt out the resistor |65, as follows:

From ground through secondary coil |61, tap |68, conductor |66, conductor |82, relay switch point IBI, conductor |83, conductor |42, connector D, conductor 4|, conductor |64, lamp |63, conductor |62, connector D, conductor IBI, relay switch point |60, conductor 244 to ground. This gives full available current to the gun lamp as a substitute for the lesser heating current, and causes the lamp to project a ash of light sufficient to affect the photoelectric cell.

'Ihe energization of the magnet |12 also closes the switch point |84 in the relay G, to complete the following circuit to actuate the shot counter:

From the secondary coil |34 of the transformer ||4, conductor |35, conductor |85, relay switch point |84 in relay G, conductor |06, magnet |81, conductor |88, conductor |42, back to the secondary coil |34 of the transformer ||4, then the magnet |81, by a mechanical connection not here shown, moves the wiper |43 one step forward along the segment |5| as part of the shotcounting operation.

The actuation of the magnet |12 in relay G upon pulling the trigger |10 also causes a sound to be made simulating the explosive sound of a gun. The circuit that does this is as follows:

From the secondary coil |34 of transformer H4, conductor |35, conductor |85, relay switch point |84, in relay G, conductor |86, conductor |9 connector D, conductor |92, solenoid coil |93, which solenoid, by mechanical means not here shown, actuates the gun sounder, conductor |94, conductor |64, conductor |4|, connector D, conductor |42, back to the secondary coil |34, thus every time the trigger is pulled the sound of a shot is heard.

The above description covers what happens when the trigger is pulled, and if no hit is made. Each time this occurs the wiper |43 goes forward one step along segment |5| until it has made ten forward steps, and leaves the segment whereupon the machine is dead, and no further firing can be done without the insertion of another coin and a further operation of the coin slide.

While the various circuits and the mechanisms controlled by them operate at great rapidity, nevertheless a holding circuit is provided which gives time enough for the completion of all 'the necessary functions after the last shot is fired and the wiper has left the segment |5| to allow all circuits time to assume the end position. The holding circuit keeps the magnet |53 in relay F energized during the full operation of the magnet |81. This circuit extends from the ground through Switchpoint |95, conductor 96, conductor |91, conductor |52, to magnet |53 in relay F, conductor |54, conductor |49, the secondary coil |50 of the transformer ||0, back to the ground. 'Ihe residual magnetism or lag in the electromagnet |81 holds the switch |95 closed long enough even after the wiper |43 has passed beyond the segment |5| to give time for the completion of the various cycles of operation.

If, however, one or more hits are made, the

situation changes somewhat-*and other circuits are energized and other operations take place, as follows:

Assuming that the marksman on any one of his shots of the first ten makes a hit, this is, assuming the gun is aimed correctly in that upon pulling the trigger a light flash impinges upon the lens 55 and is directed thereby upon the photo-sensitive cell 43, the following sequences occur:

In the first place, it is nec-essary to protect the machine against improper manipulation, for instance, the apparatus must be protected against actuation simulating a hit when some light source other than the gun is used. In other words, a dishonest marksman might strike a match, use a flashlight, or deflect the light from some other source into the photo-sensitive member or photoelectric cell. Means are provided to make this ineffective unless and until the trigger is pulled.

.These means for protecting the apparatus against actuation by anything except a light ray projected from the gun are also controlled by the magnet |81. When that magnet is energized by a pull on the trigger, the switch 20| is closed, cornpleting a circuit as follows:

From one of the secondary windings 202 of transformer ||0, conductor 203, switch 20|, conductor 204, hit-counter magnet 205, conductor 206, plate 201 of one of the tubes 208 of the photoelectric amplifier. This puts voltage on the plate and permits this tube to function. If voltage were not on the plate, it would not function, and therefore a light beam merely impinging on the photoelectric cell without the closure of the switches controlled by the trigger and associated circuits will produce no effect on hit-counter coil 205 because the tube cannot function unless voltage is impressed on the plate 201. When the tube is energized as a result of light impinging on the photoelectric cell, as will hereinafter appear, the circuit goes on through the tube 208, conductor 209, to the other terminal of the coil 202.

The photoelectric cell is diagrammatically shown. However, for the purpose of illustration, a circuit extends from the ground through conductor 2|0, connector H, conductor 2| I, third rail 20, photoelectric cell 43, conductor 2|2, connector H, conductor 2|3, into the amplifying' system, which in turn -energizes the grid 2|4, so that the circuit through the magnet 205 above described is energized when a hit is made, to cause the wiper |44 to take one forward step, thus indicating a hit. That brings the wiper to the second Contact in the outer group of arcuately arranged hitcounting circuit buttons, as indicated in Figure 6, This closes a circuit from ground, through wiper |44, conductor 2|5, connector E, conductor 2|6, light 2|1, conductor |48, connector E, conductor |49, secondary coil |50 of transformer l0, thence to the ground. 'This energizes light 2|1 which illuminates the numeral one (l) on the target box shown in Figure 1.

This movement of the wiper |44 also causes it to engage the first of the target-reversing contact points in the inner arcuately arranged groupsA of contacts associated with conductor 2|9, closing a circuit from ground, through wiper |44, conductor 2|9, conductor 220, switch 22|, conductor 32|, magnet 222, associated with the relay B, conductor |49, secondary coil |50 of the transformer H0, to ground. This actuates the relay B to reverse the motor as previously pointed out, and causes the target to reverse and travel in the opposite direction.

The next hit moves vthe wiper to engage the third of the outer contacts to light the number two 2) light, but does not move it far enough to engage the second of the contacts associated with conductor 2|9. The result of this is that the circuit through magnet 222 is opened, and the relay switch B automatically opens, as is characteristic of the conventional type of relay switch. This again reverses the motor and causes the target to travel in the opposite direction.

This sequence continues, a new light being illuminated for each hit made, until the wiper |43 has traveled beyond the end of the segment |5|,

Aat which time the machine is turned off. As previously pointed out, the wipers |43 and |44 are automatically returned to the starting position when the coin switch is actuated for a new string of shots.

` The exception to this is that, if a marksman gets ten hits with his first ten shots, then the wiper |44 goes around to the contact 223, engaging that at the same time as it engages the tenth contact point 224 to light up the number ten (10) light. There is then a circuit closed from the ground, through wiper |44, contact point 223, conductor 225, switch 226, conductor 221, contact point 321, wiper |43, conductor |52, magnet |53, conductor |54, conductor |40, secondary coil |50, to the ground. This keeps the electromagnet associated with the relay F energized so that operation may continue. The next shot moves the wiper |43 into engagement with the segment 228, so that the magnet |53 now continues to operate relay F to permit further operation, so that the marksman may get ten more shots. The segment 228 is grounded, just as was the segment |5|, and ten shots more can be fired. The scoring continues around the arc of indicating light contacts previously referred to, associated with the wiper |44 until ten more shots have been red, when the wiper |43 runs olf the further end of the segment 228, and the apparatus goes out of operation, just as it would have gone out, had contact not been made with terminal point 223. If it is desiredto give the marksman twenty shots without reference to the number of hits, then the switch 220 is grounded, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 6, thus substituting for the effect of the contact point 223. In effect, this would be the same as a continuous segment instead of |5|, 321, and 228.

Another function of the magnet 205 is that every time a hit is made, it closes the switch 230, which results in closing a circuit from secondary coil |34, through conductor |35, conductor 23|, switch 230, conductor 232, connector I, conductor 233, bell-ringing solenoid 14, conductor 234, connector I, conductor 235, conductor |88, conductor |42, back to the secondary coil |34. This rings the bell every time a hit is made.

In Figure 4 is shown, in somewhat more'dagrammatic and simplified form, the light circuit, the conductors and elements being given the same characters there as in Figures 5 and 6.

In a number of instances, we have shown condensers across the switches for the purpose of preventing sparking and the like. Their use is the conventional and usual use in such circumstances, and no further description of them, it is thought, is required, as their functioning and operation is standard in the art.

In order to protect the gun against use without the insertion of a coin, a safety circuit is provided, which, while it does not mechanically interfere with the pulling of the trigger, makes trgger manipulation'of no avail, and insures that there will be no functioning of the apparatus, no operation of any of the important circuits, and no projection of light, unless a coin has been inserted and the coin slide manipulated before the trigger is pulled.

As previously pointed out, during normal operation when the trigger is pulled, current passes from the conductor |13 through the magnet |72 to ground, thereby actuating the timing switch G, without which pulling the trigger can have no effect and the gun cannot be operated. After the last shot of a complete series is fired, the magnet |53, as previously pointed out,'no longer holds the relay F in open position, relay F, therefore, after the last shot remains in the dotted line position and closes a circuit at the switch point 240. Under these circumstances, if the trigger is pulled in an effort to cheat the machine, the current passing along the conductor |13 will take the line of least resistance to ground, following the circuit from |13 through conductor 24|,vresistance 242, conductor 243, switch point 240, conductor 244, to ground. Perhaps a little current will pass through the magnet |72, but it will not be enough to actuate the magnet. The low resistance shortcircuit above referred to thus insures that pulling the trigger will not cause operation of the device.

The condenser |19, whenever the trigger is pulled, discharges. It is bad for a condenser to discharge it through a dead short-circuit, and that is why the resistance 242 is placed in the line short-circuiting the magnet |12. The resistor 242 gives the circuit enough resistance so that the condenser will not be harmed when it discharges, but the resistance is still low enough so that the magnet |12 will not be actuated.

It is important that unless the apparatus has been conditioned for correct operation, pulling the trigger will have no useful effect, This can be accomplished by providing a short-circuit around the magnet coil |12, but if that were done, the dead short-circuit would in time damage the condenser because experience teaches that the trigger is frequently pulled when the device is not conditioned for operation.

The presence of the resistor 242 in the shortcircuit in parallel with the magnet coil |12 insures that not enough current will pass through the magnet coil to cause operation of the device because the current will be divided between the coil and the resistor, and the condenser will thus not be subject to the deleterious effect of a dead shortcircuit.

The light 25| in the gun cabinet is lighted by a circuit from the secondary coil |34, conductor |42, connector D, conductor I4I, conductor |64, conductor 252, lamp 25|, conductor 253, connector D, conductor 254, conductor |35, thence to the coil |34.

The switch 255 is a reset switch in the target cabinet by the use of which the serviceman may reset the apparatus for adjustment and manipulation without using the coin control mechanism. This switch, of course, will be enclosed in the cablnet so that the customers will not have access to it. It is connected between conductors |31 and |88 and shorts out the switch and control mechanism operated by the coin slide. i

The condenser 30|, condenser 302, and choke 303 are provided to serve as a lter to prevent outside disturbances picked up by the third rail 28 from getting into the amplifier. It might happen that just as the operator pulled the trigger, but missed the target, some outside disturbance might be picked up by the third rail 23, acting as a radio antenna which would cause target operation, that is, an apparent hit. The filter assembly makes that impossible.

The condensers associated with the relay switches are, of course, for the obvious purpose of preventing transient impulses being produced at the various points.

The condenser |19 is charged by the following circuit, which is closed when the operator does not have his finger on the trigger. It is closed through switch point 40| associated with the gun switch lever |69, when the trigger is released. The circuit is as follows:

From the ground at 402, through coil 403 of the transformer I0, rectier tube 404, conductor 405, conductor 403, choke coil 4,01, conductor 408, resistor 409, resistor 4|0, conductor 4| I, connector D, conductor 4I2 to switch point 40|, then through switch arm |69, conductor |18, condenser |79, conductor |00, conductor Ill-I, connector D, conductor |42, through resistor |65, conductor |05, tap |08, coil |61 to ground. The purpose of this arrangement is to charge the condenser |19 at a suliciently slow rate that no impulses will be set up in the system which might cause premature or iniproper operation of any of the other circuits.

The discharge of the condenser |19 provides the force to operate the relay G. rlhis in turn causes sucient current to be applied to the gun lamp to energize it so that when the trigger is pulled and the lamp is energized, if the gun is properly aimed, the resultant flash of light upon the photoelectric cell will cause the operation of the hlt-counting device and associated circuits and mechanisms.

The two switches associated with the coin control mechanism are important because when the coin control slide is pushed in, which is possible only when a coin is inserted, the circuit is closed between |39 and I 40 to permit operation of the device. However, the circuit must always be broken at |15, as otherwise it would be possible to hold the coin slide in, keep the switches |39 and |40 closed, and make continuous operation possible. These two switches together cooperate to insure that the machine cannot be continuously operated by holding in the coin slide.

We have mentioned above the rectifier tube 404. This apparatus operates on alternating current. However, three different uses for direct current appear in this device: one, to charge the condenser |19; another, to provide direct current for the photoelectric cell; and another, to providel direct current for the amplifying tubes.

The resistance element 4|3 grounded from the conductor |52, shown adjacent the magnet coil |53 of relay F is forv the purpose of preventing excessive arcing at the wiper |43, it is in parallel with the wiper |43 and grounded at segments I5 I. Thus, for example, if we assume that it takes ten amperes to close relay F, and that the circuit is broken at |43, then if the resistor 4I3 draws four amperes to ground, only six amperes are available to form an arc and so the resistor protects the circuit against any excessive arcing which might set up impulses to be picked up on the third rail, for instance, to cause the actuation of the hitcounting mechanism when no hit had been made.

The resistor 4 I 4 and the condenser 4 I 5, grounded from the conductor 220 are for the same purpose of protecting the circuit through the wiper |44. The lter consisting of a resistor 4I6 and condenser 4H is also for the same purpose of quenching any arc at the switch |69.

We claim:

l. In a target device, a gun, an electric gun lamp, a trigger, a double-throw switch controlled thereby, two electric circuits controlled by the switch, one of them including a condenser, a resistance, and a source of direct current, the other including the condenser and a magnetic coil, an electric light circuit including the lament of the gun lamp and a gun lamp switch, the magnetic coil being adapted to control the light switch.

2. In a target device, a gun, an electric gun lamp, a trigger, a double-throw switch controlled thereby, two electric circuits controlled by the switch, one of them including a condenser and a source of direct current, the other including the condenser and a magnetic coil, an electric light circuit including the filament of the gun lamp and a gun lamp switch, the magnetic coil being adapted to control the light switch.

3. In a target device, a gun, an electric gun lamp, a trigger, a double-throw switch controlled thereby, two electric circuits controlled by the switch, one of them including a condenser, and a source of direct current, the other including the condenser and a magnetic coil, a gun lamp circuit including the filament of the gun lamp and a gun lamp switch, the magnetic coil being adapted to control the gun lamp switch, the trigger being adapted when pulled by the operator to so position the double-throw switch that the condenser discharges through the magnetic coil to actuate the gun lamp switch, the double-throw switch being at all other times so positioned that the condenser will receive a charge.

4. In a target device, a gun, an electric gun lamp having an incandescent filament, a trigger, a gun lamp circuit including the filament and an electrically controlled gun lamp switch, two trigger circuits, one adapted to control the gun lamp switch including a trigger switch controlled by the trigger and a condenser, the other trigger circuit including the trigger switch, the condenser and means for charging it, the rst trigger circuit having two branches, one adapted to cause the discharge from the condenser to operate the gun lamp switch, the other adapted to cause the condenser to discharge without operation of the gun lamp switch.

5. In a target device, a gun, an electric gun lamp having an incandescent lament, a trigger. a gun lamp circuit including the lament and an electrically controlled gun lamp switch, a trigger circuit adapted to control the gun lamp switch including a trigger switch controlled by the trigger, a condenser and means for charging it, the trigger circuit having two branches, one adapted to cause the discharge from the condenser to operate the gun lamp switch, the other adapted to cause the condenser to discharge without operation of the gun lamp switch, and a resistance in said last-named branch.

6. In a target device, a gun, an electric gun lamp having an incandescent filament, a trigger, a gun lamp circuit including the filament and an electrically controlled gun lamp switch, a trigger circuit adapted to control the gun lamp switch including a trigger switch controlled by the trigger, a condenser and means for charging it, the trigger circuit having two branches, one adapted to cause the discharge from the condenser to operate the gun lamp switch, the other adapted to cause the condenser to discharge without operation of the gun lamp switch, a lockout switch adapted to connect only one of said branches at a time tothe circuit.

7. In a target device, a gun, an electric gun lamp, and a trigger, a gun lamp circuit including an incandescent filament and an electrically operated gun lamp switch controlling it, a trigger circuit including a condenser and a trigger switch controlled by the trigger, the trigger circuit having a branch adapted to control the gun lamp switch and a branch in parallel therewith, adapted to cause discharge of the condenser without controlling the gun lamp switch, a lockout switch associated with the trigger circuit and the two branches and adapted to selectively direct all the current through the branch controlling the gun lamp switch, or to cause discharge of current through both branches in parallel.

8. In a light gun, an electric light having a filament, a trigger, a switch and means for holding it closed during a series of trigger manipulations and an electric circuit controlled by said switch for supplying current suicient to heat the lament but insucient to cause it to project an effective beam of light from the gun, a trigger switch controlled by the trigger, an electric circuit controlled by the trigger switch for supplying current suhoient to cause the filament to project an effective flash of light from the gun.

MAHLON W. K ENNEY. HERMAN G. JENSEN. 

